Corner edge connector for printed circuit boards

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an L-shaped edge connector for the use with circuit modules such as printed circuit boards. The inner L-shaped surface of the connector is formed with a slotted channel adapted to receive the leading edge of the board in its base portion. The base of the connector is further fitted with spring contacts for securing and making electrical contact with the leading edge of the board. The slotted channel within the upright portion of the connector is adapted to receive an adjacent edge of the board and provide lateral support thereto.

United States Patent [72] Inventor John M. Ammerman Indianapolis, Ind. [21] Appl.No. 728,406 [22] Filed May 13,1968 [45] Patented Mar. 2,1971 [73] Assignee Radio Corporation of America.

[54] CORNER EDGE CONNECTOR FOR PRINTED CIRCUITBOARDS 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 317/101, 339/176, 339/17 [51] Int. Cl. 1102b 1/02 [50] FieldofSearch 317/101 (DH), 101 (CC), 17, 176 (MP); 339/17, 17 (LM), 176 (MP); 21 1/26,41, 473; 174/138.5; 248/201 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,154,281 10/1964 Frank 174/1385 3,216,580 9/1965 Fricker,Jr..... 211/41 2,802,188 8/1957 Badders 339/17L(UX) 2, 946,033 7/1960 Wirth,Jr. ..339/176MP(UX) 4/1964 CleWS ..339/176MP(UX) 3,246,279 4/1966 s16r61 339/17L(UX) 3,299,392 1/1967 Evans 339/17L(UX) 3,300,686 1/1967 Johnson..... ....317/l0lDH(UX) 3,365,694 1/1968 Parker ..339/I76MP(UX) FOREIGN PATENTS 1,034,236 6/1966 GreatBritain ..339/176MP(UX OTHER REFERENCES ELECTRONICS, April 1956, page 63 (copy 339-171.

Primary Examiner-David Smith, Jr. Attorney-Edward J. Norton ABSTRACT: Disclosed is an L-shaped edge connector for the use with circuit modules such as printed circuit boards. The inner L-shaped surface of the connector is formed with a slotted channel adapted to receive the leading edge of the board in its base portion. The base of the connector is further fitted with spring contacts for securing and making electrical contact with the leading edge of the board. The slotted channel within the upright portion of the connector is adapted to receive an adjacent edge of the board and provide lateral support thereto.

PATENTEDHAR 2am 3.567.998

1 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR jonu M. fl'mmsrmnu 8) {Mad Arman CORNER EDGE CONNECTOR FORPRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The function of edge connectors for use with circuit modules, such as printed circuit boards, is well known to those skilled in the electronic art. They provide the capability of rapid replacement thereby enhancing the 'serviceability and utility of the particular equipment of which the module is a part. One type of edge connector whichhas enjoyed a successful degree of acceptance has a-plurality of electrical spring contacts arranged in linear fashion at predetermined intervals. These contacts are adapted to receive the leading edge of a circuit board inserted therein and to register with the conductive circuit paths upon the board which emanate therefrom. The connector is generally formed with a slotted channel, having closed ends, into which the contacts are fitted. The leading edge of the circuit board is maintained at a length which will enter the enclosed channel with' a minimum amount of clearance, thereby providing indexing with the contacts.

In many types of electrical equipment it is convenient to subdivide the requisite circuitry into functional units, each unit being fabricated as a module contained on a separate circuit board. These modules may therefore, vary geometrically in accordance with the characteristics of the particular circuit subdivision and the board upon which the circuitry is mounted may vary in dimension.

To avoid the necessity of accommodating circuit boards of varying lengths with a corresponding connector, the practice has developed of shaping the leading edge of the board with a projecting tongue which is maintained at a width compatible with the standard widths of connector channels. This practice has proven to result in numerable drawbacks. For example, the shape of the card, by virtue of having a projecting tongue, does not provide for the most economical use of card material. In addition, the card must be provided with some means of support since the depth of the connector channel is not sufficient to support the cantilevered mass of the card.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION This invention relates to edge connectors for use with circuit boards and, more particularly, to an L-shaped edge connector defined by a base member and a side member, the base member formed with a slotted channelfor receiving a portion of the leading edge of the circuitboard, the side member providing lateral support to the board via an edge of the board adjacent said leading edge. By combining two such L-shaped connectors with a circuit board having emanating conductive paths along a predetermined length measured from either end of its leading edge, it is possible to accommodate boards of varying width while at the same time providing lateral support thereto.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an edge connector which is adapted for use with circuit boards of varying width.

A further object is to provide an edge connector for use with printed circuit boards of varying width which in addition provides lateral support to the board.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an edge connection termination for circuit boards of varying connection edge widths, while at the same time providing indexing, lateral support, and card retention.

These as well as additional object and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood when the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein:

- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a circuit board assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view taken along section 2- of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is illustrative of a circuit assembly secured to a supporting structure; and v FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views of edge connectors in ac- 'cordance with the present invention, adapted for use with single-sided and double-sided circuit boards respectively.

Referring now in more detail to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1, which is illustrative of a circuit board assembly in accordance with the present invention, comprises a circuit board 10 formed with printed circuitry 11 and having circuit elements 12 mounted thereon. The printed circuitry 11 is formed by any of the conventional techniques well-known to those skilled in the art and is configured so as to terminate at the outer portions of the leading edge 13 of the circuit board 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, two L-shaped connectors 15 are provided and disposed so as to be adapted to receive the circuit board 10. The connectors 15 are formed of a dielectric material and are defined by a base portion 16 and a side portion 17. The inner L-shaped surface-of the connectors are formed with a slotted channel 18 open at either end 19 thereof. The leading edge 13 of the circuit board 10 is received by the slotted channel 18 within the base portion 16 of the connector 15 while the slotted channel 18 within the side portion 17 provides lateral support to the circuit board 10 via the edges 20 of the board adjacent said leading edge 13. The side portions 17 of the connectors 15 are formed with detent means 21 adapted to mate with corresponding detent means situated upon the circuit boardlfl, FIG. 2 represents the detent means 21 as a projection into the slotted channel 18 within the side portion 17 of the connector. In this embodiment the circuit board would be formed with a corresponding notch (not shown) such that the two would mate when the board and connector were properly aligned. Although this technique of providing alignment has proven particularly effective, other modifications may be readily incorporated without departing from the spirit of the present invention. As an example of one such modification, the projection may be provided upon the circuit board and thenotch within the connector. Furthermore, although a single detent means positioned at the top of the connector has been illustrated, the number or position of such means is not controlling.

Continuing with the description of the assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, each of the connector elements 15 is formed with fastening means 22 adaptedto releasably engage cor responding means 23 formed within the supporting structure 24. As illustrated, the releasably engageable fingers 22 are formedas an integral part of the base portion of the connector 15. FIG. 3 depicts the manner in whichthe fingers 22 engage the supporting structure 24.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate sectional views of edge connectors adapted for use with either single orldouble sided circuit boards. As shown therein, the base portions 16 of the connectors are fitted with a plurality of electrical spring contacts 25 arranged in linear fashion at predetermined intervals within the slotted channel 18. The base portion of the connector is formed with a series of holes 26 adapted to receive these contacts 25 and to permit the lower portions 27 thereof to project beneath the connector. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 the supporting structure 24 is provided with a like series of holes 28 adapted to receive these protruding portions 27 of the electrical contacts. These protruding portions thereafter serve as rigid posts to which wire terminals maybe secured, as by wire wrapping, and further provide a means by which connection may be made to circuit paths 29 formed upon the supporting structure. FIG. 3 is illustrative of the latter where the assembly has been passed through a solder wave and solder connections 30 established between the protruding contacts and the conductive circuit paths 29 formedon the underside of the supporting structure 24.

To complete the assembly the leading edge 13 of the circuit board 10 is inserted into the base portions 16 of the connectors. 15 with the terminating portions of the printed circuit paths 11 being engaged by, and making electrical contact with, the springcontacts 25. In light of the fact that the various types of spring contacts available are well known to those present invention, a detailed descriptionof the contacts shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is not felt to be warranted. However, the contacts 25 must be arranged so as to. provide proper registration with the terminating circuit paths 11 at the leading edge 13 of the circuit board 10. Accordingly, it may contain contacts 25 on only one side of the slotted channel 18, as in the case of fFlG. 4, or it may be fitted with contacts 25 on both sides of the channel 18, as in FIGS, so as to accommodate a circuit board having conductive paths 11 on both sides thereof. 7

lclaim: l v i 1. An edge connector formed of dielectric material for use with a printed circuit board comprising:

an L-shaped connector body deiinedsolely by a substantially straight base member and a single side member depending at an angle therefrom forming a continuous integral corner socket and support for said circuit board; said base member formed with a slotted channel adapted to receive a portion of the leading edge of said circuit board; said side. member providing lateral support to said circuit board via an edge of said board adjacent said leading edge; and

means, for providing electrical registration between said connector and said circuit board, said means adapted for engagementwith corresponding means situated on said circuit board for electrically coupling said latter means to said connector. 2..An edge connector as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for securing said connector to a supporting structure, said securing means formed as an integral part of said body. v

3. An edge connector as defined in claim 1 wherein said side member includes a channel disposed therein substantially coplanar with said base member channeland in communication therewith for receiving only portions of the corresponding edges of said printed circuit board therein, said edges being disposed at said angle to each other.

4. A multicontact edge connector for securing a printed circuit board to a supporting structure, comprising:

an L-shaped body made of dielectric material, said body being defined solely by a substantially straight base member and asingle side member depending at a right angle therefrom forming a continuous unitary corner socket and support for said circuit board;

the inner L-shaped surface of said body defined by said base and side members formed with a continuous channel disposed therein;

said channel adapted to receive only a portion of each of the respective edges of said circuit board when inserted therein;

a plurality of conductive contact members having a terminal portion and a contact portion, said contact members being disposed in said base member;

said contact portion being disposed in communication with said base member channel, said terminal portion extending beyond said base member at a side oppositely disposed said channel, said contact portions registering with corresponding conductors disposed on said printed circuit board when inserted in said channel;

detent means for securing said connector to said supporting structure, said detent means formed as a unitary part of said body and adapted to engage with corresponding detent means formed within saidsupporting structure; and

means formed as a unitary part of said side member for securing said circuit board to said connector. 

1. An edge connector formed of dielectric material for use with a printed circuit board comprising: an L-shaped connector body defined solely by a substantially straight base member and a single side member depending at an angle therefrom forming a continuous integral corner socket and support for said circuit board; said base member formed with a slotted channel adapted to receive a portion of the leading edge of said circuit board; said side member providing lateral support to said circuit board via an edge of said board adjacent said leading edge; and means for providing electrical registration between said connector and said circuit board, said means adapted for engagement with corresponding means situated on said circuit board for electrically coupling said latter means to said connector.
 2. An edge connector as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for securing said connector to a supporting structure, said securing means formed as an integral part of said body.
 3. An edge connector as defined in claim 1 wherein said side member includes a channel disposed therein substantially coplanar with said base member channel and in communication therewith for receiving only portions of the corresponding edges of said printed circuit board therein, said edges being disposed at said angle to each other.
 4. A multicontact edge connector for securing a printed circuit board to a supporting structure, comprising: an L-shaped body made of dielectric material, said body being defined solely by a substantially straight base member and a single side member depending at a right angle therefrom forming a continuous unitary corner socket and support for said circuit board; the inner L-shaped surface of said body defined by said base and side members formed with a continuous channel disposed therein; said channel adapted to receiVe only a portion of each of the respective edges of said circuit board when inserted therein; a plurality of conductive contact members having a terminal portion and a contact portion, said contact members being disposed in said base member; said contact portion being disposed in communication with said base member channel, said terminal portion extending beyond said base member at a side oppositely disposed said channel, said contact portions registering with corresponding conductors disposed on said printed circuit board when inserted in said channel; detent means for securing said connector to said supporting structure, said detent means formed as a unitary part of said body and adapted to engage with corresponding detent means formed within said supporting structure; and means formed as a unitary part of said side member for securing said circuit board to said connector. 